A second-round pick out of North Carolina, Austin missed his rookie season (2011) with a torn pectoral muscle, then missed eight games of his second season with a back injury.

“For a month there, I couldn’t even lift weights” last season, he told the New York Daily News last month, soon before the Giants cut him. “I look like freaking Bambi out there.”

He had a grand total of eight tackles in eight games for the Giants last season. Then he needed knee surgery after the season.

He failed to make the Giants in training camp and was signed to provide depth because of injuries that have sidelined Paul Soliai and Cam Wake.

“I could never have seen this,” Austin told The Daily News last month about simply fighting to stay in the league. “I thought I’d be a starting D-tackle right now, possibly a Pro Bowler. Athletically, I’m one of the best D-tackles in the league.”

Giants defensive line coach Ronald Nunn said last month: “He can’t just disappear when the pads come on.”

### UM coach Al Golden said Stephen Morris (ankle) did not participate in all of practice today but threw 40 passes. He’s still on track to play Saturday against USF, barring a setback.

### Asked who has proved worthy of more playing time, Golden cited Beau Sandland, Stacy Coley, Gus Edwards and Alex Gall. “Gus’ speed is deceptive, at 228. He runs in the 4.5 range. He looks like he’s plodding, but he’s not.”

### The NCAA announced today that it will gradually restore scholarships taken away from Penn State as part of punishment for the Jerry Sandusky tragedy.

Which prompted this excellent tweet from ESPN’s Jay Bilas a little while ago: “NCAA receptionist: Uh, Dr. Emmert, Donna Shalala on line 2. She’d like to know how you decided on Penn State twice before Miami once.”

### Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest, awaiting word from owner Jeffrey Loria about whether he will keep his job, has understandably declined to discuss the issue with newspaper writers.

But on his team-mandated radio appearance this morning with Marc Hochman and Jonathan Zaslow on 790/104.3 The Ticket, Beinfest said he did not know if he would be retained.

“If I read the papers and l listen to everybody, it sounds I'm a goner,” he said, adding “I’ve done a good job.”

How has he dealt personally with speculation about his job?

“The tumultuous and unsettling part is reading about it everyday,” he said. “I’m a person… [with] a wife and kids. It can grate on you. Has it been fun for me? No…. Am I disappointed? Absolutely. Nobody wants to read about losing their livelihood.”

Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reported late last night that Loria plans on re-organizing his front office around assistant general manager Dan Jennings and Jennings already has been given permission to assemble a staff. The Marlins aren’t commenting on the report. But from all indications, Beinfest has not been told if he will be retained.